Switch-stand.



PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

w. W. ALLEN. SWITCH STAND. APPLIOATIONIILED 00131, 1902.

F1 F I 5 snnn'rs-snnw 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 746,434. PATENTED DEC. 1903.

W. W. ALLEN.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLIOATION FILED 00mm, 1902.

no MODEL. 5 sums-$113111 2.

IIHIIH uma, was-ammo. mm

Na. 746,434; PATENTED DEC. -8, 190a;

WQW. ALLEN; SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.31, 1902.

I BSHEETS-SHEET 3 NO MODEL.

No. 746,434. v V U PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

W. W. ALLEN. i

SWITCH STAND.

- APPLICATION FILED 001231, 1902, 10 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

AMA

UNITED STATES;

Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. ALLEN, or sLoA'r'sBURe, NEW YoRK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD "EQUIPMENT ooMP NY, OF MAHWAH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF W JERSEY.

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SPECIFICATION forming of Letters Patent N 0. 746,434, dated December 8, 1903.

Application filed October 31, 1902.; serial No. 129.512. (No model.)

way-switches.

One of the main objects of this invention is to produce a switchstand which shall be capable of operating so as to operate a signal or semaphore located at a distance from the switch-stand so as to indicate either on, the main line or siding the condition of the switch from a point distant therefrom and to efiect the operation of such distant signal before the switch-stand has been unlocked and is capable of being operated to move the switch.

The device, mechanism, or apparatus which em bodies my invention, whatever the details of construction thereof may be,-is" designed to be utilized in the folllowing manner or relationship and for the accomplishment of the following results, viz: A switch being placed in position with the rails of a railway, a switch-stand, so called, is located in such neat-juxtaposition thereto as by means of an operative connection the switch may be operated by the switch-stand. Itis not enough that the switch shall be capable of being operated by the switch-stand so as to move the switch in one or the other position; but essentially the switch-stand must be capableof locking the switch in one or the other position before a. train, car, or engine passes through the switch, and, again, in whatever position the switch may be left and there left locked ready for use, as just above stated, the switch-stand itself must be locked, so as to prevent the same from being inadvertently operated and from being tampered with or otherwise moved ordisturbed by accident or otherwise. lonne'cted with the switch-stand it is usual and preferable to locate a local signal designed to be operated by the movements of the switch-stand at some point in the operation thereof or in the operation of the switch itself either wholly before the switch has commenced to move or synchronously with the movements of the switch orjust after the switch has been wholly moved, so that in "any event this local signal willindicate the position of the switch and whetherit is open or.

closed. Again, it is also highly'preferable to indicate bya suitable signal or semaphore, as it is called, placed at a distance from the switch-stand,switch, and local signal the exact condition of the switch, whether it is open or closed, and while my invention embodies means and devices for the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes and by the use of my invention the foregoing purposes: are more effectually realized, yet my invention also especially embodies means whereby the aforementioned distant signal, of whatever partio ular character it may be, can be effectively operated through the operation of the switch-stand by means connected therewith or forming a part therof, so that such distant signal may be wholly operated or moved from one position to the other in the operation ofsuoh switch-stand before the switch has commenced to move and preferably before the switch -stand. and switch have become unlocked or synchronously with the movement of the switch-stand and switch and local signal if the local signal is utilized with such switch stand, whereby the distant signal would indicate to the engineer or conductor or other railway employee not only the exact vention to the precise construction, arrangement, and operation of means, mechanism, apparatus, or combination of parts and devices shown in said drawings and hereinafter more particularly described, since the character and scope of myinvention will not only be ascertained from an examination of the drawings and study of the description thereof, but also from an examination and study of the foregoing preamble and of the claims'hereinafter following.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch-stand, showing a portion of a railway track and switch to which it is applied. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the track shown in Fig. l, the locking-bar being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, on a larger scale, of the switch-stand, taken with the switch in its closed and locked position. Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the switch-stand with the switch in its closed position, the locking-lever, however, having completed half of its unlocking stroke. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch-stand with the switch in its closed position, but unlocked. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the switch-stand with the switch in its open position. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the gearing interposed between the switch0perating lever and switch-open ating bar. Fig. Sis a sectional view through the casing inclosing said gearing, which is shown in elevation. Fig. 9isa sectional view through said casing with the gearing omitted, showing the inner bearing for the switch-opcrating shaft. Fig. 10 is a detailed view of a portion of the switch-stand, showing one of the latches for automatically locking the switch-operating lever and the locking-lever.

In the illustration the invention is shown as applied to a simple form of switch, the

. rails of the main track being indicated at a a and those of the turnout at b b. The rails a b are firmly secured to the switch-operating bar a in any suitable manner, and means for adjusting the relative position of these two rails may be provided upon the bar 0, said means, however, not being shown in the drawings. The bar a is also provided with a link 0 pivoted at c and having its other end pivotally secured to a crank 01, formed upon the lower end of the target-spindle d, in the usual manner.

The actuation of the switch is effected through lever e, shaft f, and the gearing inclosed by easing g, which gearing is interposed between shaft f and bar 0 and comprises a pinion g, secured upon shaft f and having a bevel-gear, and a sector 9 mounted.

upon spindle d and having a similar gear which meshes with the first-named gear. Shaft fis provided with a wide bearing g which is formed in casing g, and a second bearing 9 is provided for said shaft within the casing, whereby said shaft is prevented from working loose and wabbling notwithstanding the heavytransverse strains to which it is continually subjected.

It is essential that the switch-operating lever 6 be fastened securely upon the end of sbaftfin order to prevent any possibility of its twisting off, and thereby endangering the safety of the switch. For this purpose a feather-and-groove connection is provided, the. feather or pin e resting in registering grooves which are cut in shaftfand lever e, and the feather e is, moreover, provided with a groove 6 which a second pin 6 engages, said pin 9 preferably passing through both shaft f andlever e. In this waythere is never any danger of the lever working loose upon the shaft so long as the interlocking pins e and 6 remain in position.

When the switch is set so as to cause a train passing through it to remain on the main track, which for simplicity will be termed the closed position of the switch, means are provided whereby to lock the switch in this position, and said means are operatively connected with a distant signal, which will always be caused to indicate the locked or unlocked condition of the switch. In connection with the locking device a locking-bar h is preferably provided, having a part 71 secured to the rails a 1), near the ends there-' of, in which an adjusting device h is preferably inserted, and a link k pivotally secured to the part it, the other end of the link h engaging slot 71 of a lock t'. have been secured to the part it within the track,as has been customary; butitis thought preferable to make the connection outside the track in order to remove all mechanism as far as possible from between the rails. This locktcomprisesapin thsuitably mounted to reciprocate in and out through slot 2" to engage an opening in bar it, which registers with said pin when the switch is in its closed position. The reciprocation of said pin is effected bythe partial revolution of a diskj, mounted to turn on shaftfand to which is pivotally secured a linkj, having its other end pivoted to pin t Diskj is also provided with a lock-operatiug lever in, which is arranged to turn the disk through half a revolution to lock the switch, while the backward movement of the lever through half a revolution effects the Inasmuch as the unlocking of the switch. terms lockingand unlocking when used in describing the mechanism of switch-stands and similar apparatus may refer to difierent devices for fastening the switch or its associ-,

ated parts in a particular position, it isnoted here that when the terms are used hereinafter in this specification they are to beconstrued as referring to the locking device or mechanism just described.

It should be observed that the point of attachment of linkj upon diskjin the unlocked position of the switch is below the centerof the disk and slightly to the side farthest from'the The link 72 might the pin 4? and the unlocking does not take sition.

'place until the lever 70 has practically finished its unlocking stroke. It should be noted also that the locking-lever is may be secured to disk j, so as to lock the switch at either end of its (the lever is) stroke, and it is therethe switch it will be above the center of the disk and slightly to the side farthest from the lock.

The provision of the bar h gives additional safety to the switch, inasmuch as it serves with the switch-operating, bar to hold the switch firmly in its closed position, and should the switch-operating bar be disturbed while the switch is closed the locking-bar would nevertheless hold the switch in its closed po- It will be understood, however, that so far as the locking mechanism is concerned the bar h may be omitted and pin i may be arranged to lock the switch by engaging the switch-operating bar, and accordingly the invention is not to be understood as limited to the use of locking-bar h.

The disk j is provided with a grooved periphery, and thereby forms a wheel for the attachment and actuation of a chain 7' which in turn operates a semaphore or other form ofdistantsignal. (Notshown.) Suitable bearings 3' are also provided for the actuation andqguidance of said chain. It will be obvious that any movement of the switch-operating lever e'will not affect the chain j or distant'signal, but that the locking or unlocking of the switch by the actuation of lever is will cause the disk or Wheel j to actuate the signal-chain j. It will also be obvious that when the levers e and 7c are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3that is, when the switch islocked inits closed'positionit will be impossible to move the switch-lever e until the locking-lever is has been moved to unlock the'switch. It will be evident, too, that when both levers are in the position shown in Fig. 6 either lever could be moved at pleasure but for a plate It, which-is provided upon lever is, whereby lever it cannot be moved from the position now under consideration without also moving the switch-lever e,

although the latter may be moved without the former. It is clear, therefore, inasmuch as the movement of lever it sets the distant signal, that'it will be impossible to open the switch without first setting the danger-signal and that it will alsobe impossible when the switch is open to set the safety-signal before closing the switch. Furthermore, it will be understood from what has been explained above concerning the locking mechanism that theunlocking will not take place until the danger-signal has been fully set and, conversely, that the locking is effected the moment the signal begins to change from danger to safety. Moreover, this arrangement offers a convenient and practical means for operating the switch for yard shifting, for in such shifting there is no necessity of continually operating the distant semaphore. The switch is merely required to be unlocked, which operation serves to set the danger-signal, the whole being accomplished by moving the lock-operatin g lever, the levers then being in the position shown in Fig. The switch may now be opened and closed at will without disturbing the lock-operating lever or distant signal, which remains continuously set for danger. With this arrangement it is unnecessary, as in other switches, to move the distant signal every time the switch is changed for purposes of yard shifting, which not only wears out the switch-stand, but in the event of moving a considerable mass of chain often is a burdensome undertaking. A local signal or target cl is provided upon the spindle d for purposes of yard shifting.

In order to provide a temporary automatic latch for the levers e and k and one from which said levers may be easily disengaged, a fiat piece of steel 1, bent into a U-shaped form, is pivoted near its edge at its open end upon one of the standards m, which form seats for the ends of the levers e and k at both ends of their stroke and between which standards the levers e and k are adapted to rest. It will be obvious by referring to the drawings that the levers are allowed to pass latch l in their downward movement, but if accidentally raised from their positions of rest they will strike the open end of the U- shaped piece or latch and will be firmly held from further upward movement by the. engagement of the closed end of said latch with the standard upon which it is mounted; 'By lifting the closed endof the latch before raising the levers they are easily disengaged. A similar latch may be mounted upon both standards to engage each of the levers, respectively; but it is preferable to provide one latch only, as shown in the drawings, which latch engages directly the nearer lever and the plate It on the other lever successively.

It will be obvious that padlocks or similar devices may be employed upon the standards on or latches Z or at any other convenient point in order to secure the operating-levers in any position and preventany unauthorized tampering with the same.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a lever adapted to lock the switch positively, of a distant signal, and operative connections between said signal and said locking-lever.

2. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a lever adapted to lock the switch positively, of a local signal, and operative connections between said signal and said switch-operating lever.

3. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a lever adapted to lock the switch positively, of a distant signal operatively connected with said locking-lever, and a local signal operatively connected with said switch-lever.

4. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a locking-lever, of a distant signal, a locking device for the switch-operating lever, operative connections between said locking-lever and said signal, and operative connections between said locking-lever and said locking device.

5. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a locking-lever, ofaswitch-operating bar and alockingbar operatively connected with said switch-operating lever, and a locking-pin operatively connected with said locking-lever.

6. The combination with a switch-stand having aswitch-operating lever and a locking-lever, of a locking-pin and distant signal, both of which are adapted to be controlled by said locking-lever, and aswitch-operating bar and a locking-bar, both of which are adapted to be controlled by said operating lever.

7. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a locking-lever, of a switch-operating bar controlled by said operating-lever, a distant signal, and means to lock said bar against movement, said means and distantsignal being controlled and simultaneously actuated by-said lockinglever.

8. The combination with a switch-stand having a switch-operating lever and a locking-lever, of a switch-locking device and a distant signal, both of which are adapted to be controlled by said locking-lever, and .a switch-operating bar and a local signal, both of which are adapted to be controlled by the switch-operating lever.

9. In aswitch-stand, the combination with a switch-operating lever, a target-spindle, a switch-operating bar, and connections between the bar and spindle, of gearing interposed between said lever and spindle, a casing inclosing said gearing, a shaft connecting said lever and said gearing, and having a bearing in said casing, and a second bearing for said shaft within said casing. V

10. In aswitch-stand, the combination with a switch-operating bar, of a device for locking said bar, a distant signal controlled by said locking device,said device comprising a disk, a lock-operating lever secured to said disk, a locking-pin, and a link pivotally engaging said disk and pin whereby upon the movement of the lock-operating lever from its locking position, said pin will be moved so as to unlock the switch-operating bar just before said lever has finished its unlocking stroke and the signal has been set,substantially as described.

11. In aswitch-stand,the combination with a switch-operating bar, of a device for locking said bar, a distant signal controlled by said locking device, said device comprising a disk, 2. lock-operating lever secured to said disk, a locking-pin,andalinkpivotally engagingsaid disk and pin, the point of engagement of said link and disk being so disposed with reference to said disk that in the locking position of the locking-lever said point will be to the side of the center of the disk nearest the lock and in the unlocking position of said locking-lever to the side of the center of the disk farthest from the lock, whereby upon the movement of the lock-operating lever from its locking position, said pin will be moved so as to unlock the switch-operating barjust before said lever has finished its unlocking stroke and the signal has been set, substantially as described.

12. In aswitch-stand, thecombination of a switch-operating lever, a shaft to which said lever is secured, both lever and shaft being provided at their points of juncture with registering grooves, a feather in said registering grooves, said feather having a transverse groove, and a pin passing through said lever and shaft and engaging the groove in the feather, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. A latch fora railway-switch lever, said latch being mounted upon a standard and comprising a U -shapcd piece of metal pivoted near one edge at its open end upon said standard, whereby a downward pressure of the lever upon the open end of said U-shaped latch moves said latch to allow the lever to pass, and an upward movement of the lever against said latch is resisted by the engagement of the closed end of said latch with said standard.

14. The combination with aswitch-stand of means connecting said switch stand to a switch, means adapted to be operated so as to operate a distant signal before the switchstand is unlocked and the switch moved, and means whereby the switch-stand maybe unlocked and the switch moved to the desired position, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a switclrstand normally held locked, of means connecting said switch-stand to a switch, means for unlocking the switch-stand, meansin operative relation with said unlocking means for operating adistant signal before unlocking the switch-stand, means for moving the switch to the desired position, and means for securing the switch in the position to which it has been moved.

16. The combination with a switch-stand normally held locked, of means connecting said switch-stand to a switch, means for unlocking the switch-stand, means in operative relation with said unlocking means for operating a distant signal before unlocking the switch-stand, means for moving the switch to the desired position, a local signal operatively connected with said switch-stand and adapted to be moved when the switch-stand has been unlocked, and means for securing the switch in the position to which it has been moved.

17. The combination with a switch-stand normally held locked, of means connecting said switch-stand to a switch, means for unlocking the switch-stand, means in operative relation with said unlocking means for operating a distant signal before the switch-stand is unlocked and the switch moved, means adapted to be operated when the switchstand is unlocked to move the switch, and a local signal whereby the switch and local signal may be operated without moving the distant signal until the switch-stand and switch are locked again.

18. In a switch-stand, the combination of means for operating the switch, a device for looking the switch-operatin g means when the switch is in its closed position, a distant signal operatively connected with said locking device and adapted to be set at danger as soon as the unlocking begins and to remain at danger until the locking of the switch is again completed, whereby the switch may be operated for yard shifting Without changing the distant signal which is continuously set for danger, substantially as set forth.

19. In a switch-stand, the combinationof a switch-operating lever,a1ocking-lever, means operatively connected with the first-named lever for actuating the switch, a locking device operatively connected with the secondnamed lever for locking the switch-operatingmeans when the switch is in its closed position, a distant signal operatively connected with said locking device and adapted to be set at danger as soon as the unlocking begins and to remain at danger until the locking of the switch is again completed, whereby the switch may be operated for yard shifting without changing the distant signal, substantially as set forth.

20. In aswitch-stand, the combination with means for operating a switch, a device for locking the switch-operating means and a distant signal operatively connected with said locking device, of a switch-operating lever operatively connected with said switch-operating means, a locking-lever operativelly connected with said locking device, and plate on said locking-lever whereby the switch-operating lever cannot be moved without moving the locking-lever when the switch is locked in its closed position and whereby the locking-lever cannot be moved without moving the switch-lever when the switch is in its open position.

21. In a switch-stand, the combination of a lever for operating the switch, a lever for locking the switch, said leversbeing arranged parallel with each other, a seat for the ends of said levers at either end of their stroke, and a plate upon one of said levers for engaging the other of said levers, substantially and for the purpose specified.

This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of October, 1902.

WILLIAM W. ALLEN.

In presence of- ALFRED S. BUSH, S. O. O. MURPHY. 

